Monday, October 21, 2013

"I Read It, But I Don't Get It" Excercise

I did one of the "Double-Entry Diary" exercises on "Romeo and Juliet."

Quote 1:
Capulet: Young Romeo is it?
Tybalt: 'Tis he, that villain Romeo.
Cap: Content thee, gentle coz...

From this quote, I wondered what if Capulet was more like Hatfield or McCoy and let Tybalt fight him then and there? Is it just because he knew Romeo wouldn't cause trouble or for his name that he suffered a Montague's presence?

Quote 2:
Tybalt: ...but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.

What if Capulet, who heard Tybalt's words, actually heeded them and done more than just lightly confront Romeo about who he was? What kind of person does Shakespeare paint Capulet to be?

Quote 3:
Romeo: Commend me to thy lady.
Nurse: Ay, a thousand times.

What if the nurse had run, instead to Lady Capulet and told her what Romeo sought? Does not the nurse have just as much responsibility to the house as to Juliet?

Quote 4:
Mercutio: O calm, dishonorable, vile submission.

Prior to this, Mercutio sets up the fight more than Romeo could by his presence. What if Romeo's peace calmed the situation and kept Mercutio from fighting? How is Romeo's peace a "dishonorable, vile submission?"

Quote 5:
Juliet: O happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die.

What if Juliet realized that she was only 13 and life would go on? That there would be other men besides Romeo? Is this act simply immaturity winning out over calm reason?

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